Evaluation of turmeric (Curcuma longa) varieties in high tunnel vs. open field

Authors: PHAM, TRANG - Alabama A & M University; SANATHANAM, SRAVAN - Alabama A & M University; MENTREDDY, SRINIVASA - Alabama A & M University; Cantrell, Charles; Wang, Mei

Submitted to: Global Journal of Agricultural and Allied Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2025
Publication Date: 2/17/2025
Citation: Pham, T., Sanathanam, S., Mentreddy, S., Cantrell, C.L., Wang, M. 2025. Evaluation of turmeric (Curcuma longa) varieties in high tunnel vs. open field. Global Journal of Agricultural and Allied Sciences. 5(S2):11-12. https://doi.org/10.35251/gjaas.2025.006.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35251/gjaas.2025.006

Interpretive Summary: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a tropical herb from the Zingiberaceae family, renowned for its anti-inflammatory and medicinal properties. It has been a staple in Indian Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Due to these medicinal properties, the demand for turmeric is rising in the USA, especially in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. However, US herbal manufacturers face challenges in producing turmeric domestically, primarily due to the lack of adapted varieties with shorter growing seasons (7-8 months) compared to the ideal 9-10 months. In North Alabama, the growing season is limited to seven to eight months due to late frosts in April and early frosts in October. High tunnel cultivation could potentially extend the growing season by one to two months, thus increasing turmeric rhizome yields and curcuminoid accumulation. The research aimed to assess the varietal performance for rhizome yield in high tunnel and open field conditions and determine the relative levels of curcuminoids among three turmeric varieties in these growing conditions.

Technical Abstract: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous tropical herb from the Zingiberaceae family. Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory and medicinal properties. It has been used extensively in the Indian Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine systems for centuries. Modern medicine also recognizes the importance of turmeric and has investigated its bioactive compounds, particularly curcumin, for medicinal properties. Curcumin has several medicinal properties including, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties. It has been reported to be effective against HIV, Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Hepatitis viruses, influenza type A virus (IAV), and Ebola virus. Additionally, a-R-turmerone has high antioxidant activity in vitro, improves the bioavailability of curcumin, and is effective against cancer. For these reasons, the demand for turmeric is increasing in both the food and pharmaceutical sectors in the USA. The US herbal manufacturers are seeking to replace their imported turmeric with domestically produced turmeric with levels of curcumin higher than 3.5%. However, the lack of adapted varieties with short growing seasons (7-8 months compared to the required 9-10 months) limits the expansion of turmeric production in the USA. Due to the late frosts in April and early frosts in October, the growing season in North Alabama is limited to seven to eight months. Producing turmeric in high tunnels might extend the crop growing season by a month or two, consequently increasing turmeric rhizome yields and accumulation of curcuminoids. The objectives of this research were to i) assess varietal performance for rhizome yield in the high tunnel and open field conditions and ii) determine the relative levels of curcuminoids among the three varieties of turmeric in the high-tunnel and open field growing conditions.